CHARLESTON, S.C. – On Saturday afternoon, the Wofford College football team held off a late charge by The Citadel for a 16-14 win at Johnson Hagood Stadium. The Terriers had a 16-7 lead after the opening play of the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs scored once for a 16-14 margin, and then the Wofford defense had an interception and a fourth-down stop to secure the victory.
 
Wofford is 5-6 and 4-3 in the Southern Conference, having won five of the last six games. The Citadel is 4-7 overall and 3-4 in the league. J.T. Fayard was 18-of-24 passing for 210 yards, while Gerald Modest Jr. had 13 carries for 99 yards and a touchdown. The Citadel quarterback Quentin Hayes had 22 carries for 78 yards, and he was 1-of-19 passing for 153 yards.
 
"It was a hard-fought game," said head coach Shawn Watson. "We knew it was going to be again. The offense did a great job in the first half and really moved the ball well. The defense got its feet underneath them and played another lights-out game in the second half, and had two key stops. They did a phenomenal job. Once again, I can't say enough about the kids, their effort, and just what's happening with our football team. I'm looking forward to getting home. We want to cap it off the right way and finish it up at home the right way."
 
The Terriers opened the game with a 39-yard pass from J.Y. Fayard to Terrance Honeywood. After two more first downs, Wofford faced a fourth-and-two that was converted by a run by Gerald Modest. C.J. Adams scored on an 11-yard touchdown pass. The two-point pass failed and Wofford had a 6-0 lead at 10:07 in the first quarter. The Bulldogs had a 25-yard gain on their first play of the game, but the drive stalled and they punted. Wofford began their next drive at the nine-yard line and had four passing first downs to move down the field. A 45-yard field goal attempt after a holding penalty was wide with 1:41 remaining in the first quarter. With the Bulldogs driving after three first downs, a sack by Brandon Maina forced a punt that was fair caught at the two-yard line.
 
After Wofford went three-and-out, the Bulldogs started just across midfield. They gained two first downs and then faced fourth-and-goal from the four. The pass was broken up by J'Vion Luster in the endzone, and Wofford took over on downs. Starting at the four-yard line, the Terriers had a 31-yard completion to C.J. Adams on third down. A first down run by Ihson Jackson-Anderson moved the ball across midfield, but Wofford had to punt with 2:49 left in the first half. The Bulldogs had one first down before having to punt a minute later. Gerald Modest had a 28-yard run for a first down and Kyle Parsons added a rushing first down to move inside the 20. On fourth-and-two from the five-yard line, Wofford lined up to go for it but was called for a false start. Sam Spence doinked the ball off the left upright, but it bounced in to give Wofford a 9-0 lead with 23 seconds left in the half. The Citadel ran out the clock to end the half.
 
To begin the second half, the Bulldogs faced a fourth-and-one and had a fake punt to gain the first down. After another first down, they went for it on fourth-and-three and, with a flea flicker scored a 34-yard touchdown. The Terrier lead was cut to 9-7 with 8:46 left in the third quarter. Wofford went three-and-out and punted, but the return was muffed and recovered by Blake Shirley at the 34-yard line. Facing a fourth-and-five, the pass was broken up, and the Bulldogs took over on downs.
 
After the Bulldogs went three-and-out, Gerald Modest went 48 yards down the sideline to move the Terriers down the field. They added two more first downs before a pass interference call gave the Terriers a first down at the seven-yard line. On fourth-and-goal from the two, Ihson Jackson-Anderson extended the ball over the goal line for a 16-7 lead with 14:56 on the clock. The Citadel responded with a 65-yard completion, and two more first downs moved the ball inside the 10. The Wofford defense held the Bulldogs to a 27-yard field goal attempt that was wide left with 9:42 left in the game.
 
The Terriers went three-and-out and punted. With the ball back, the Bulldogs had three first downs, including one on a pass interference call. The drive was capped by an 11-yard touchdown run to make it a 16-14 game with 5:08 left. Wofford went three-and-out and punted. The Citadel had two first downs, including one on a pass interference call. Facing fourth-and-three from the 31-yard line, the Bulldogs were called for a false start. Eli Campbell intercepted the fourth-down pass, and Wofford took over with 1:42 left in the game. The Terriers went three-and-out and punted after taking just 20 seconds off the clock. The Citadel took over at the 33-yard line and on fourth down, a pass break-up by Kade Moledor had the Terriers with the ball with 14 seconds remaining. One knee and the Terriers came away with a 16-14 win.
 
Wofford had 369 total yards on offense, with 210 passing yards. The Citadel had 367 total yards, with 201of those rushing yards. Wofford had 17 first downs to 18 for the Bulldogs. Wofford was 2-of-13 on third down and 2-of-3 on fourth down. The Citadel was 3-of-13 on third down and 2-of-5 on fourth down. Wofford had six penalties for 54 yards, while The Citadel had five penalties for 40 yards. The Citadel had a 32:35 to 27:25 time of possession advantage.
 
Wofford vs. The Citadel Post-Game Notes
This was the 79^th meeting of the two teams. The Bulldogs have a 45-33-1 lead in the series that began in 1916, with Wofford winning three of the last four meetings.
 
The Wofford defense was led by Maximus Pulley with 11 tackles. Brandon Maina had 1.5 sacks, and Darius Malcolm Jr. had three pass break-ups.
 
Eli Campbell had his fourth interception of the season late in the fourth quarter. It was the 14^th interception this season for the defense.
 
Game captains were Quincy Hughes, Seth Foster, Brandon Maina, and Maximus Pulley.
 
Attendance at Johnson Hagood Stadium was 12,909, a sell-out.
 
Wofford will return home on Saturday, November 22, for the final home game of the season against Chattanooga.